Yorketown Community Children’s Centre farewells leader Jill after 46 years in the sector

For the past 46 years, early childhood education and care (ECEC) professional Jill Huntley has been supporting children and families, educating and caring for them and helping them to meet social, emotional and educational goals.

 

After nearly 50 years of passionate work, Ms Huntley has retired, being farewelled with a celebration at Yorketown Community Children’s Centre (YCCC), where she had worked since 2005. 

 

During the celebration attendees heard about her many achievements through the years, and Ms Huntley enjoyed a surprise morning tea and was presented with a painting by artist Cedric Varcoe which encapsulated the YCCC ethos of coming together and gathering, of educating children and the importance of family and connection to Country.

 

Ms Huntley will be remembered by YCCC as a preschool teacher with a huge passion for Indigenous education, inclusion and diversity, who “knows the importance of celebrating the rich culture, language and history of the Narungga people,” and who worked hard to integrate this at YCCC.

 

“Jill has helped create a playful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all children and their families,” said Governing Council Chair Claire Tucker.

 

“Her commitment to the centre has also been second to none. This was particularly evident last year when she took on the acting director role without hesitation, and again this year when she stayed on an extra term to make sure we were not left without a director.”

 

Throughout her time at the service, Ms Huntley touched the lives of many students, by encouraging them to be inquisitive, share their own experiences and learn through play. 

 

Her dedication, kindness, and passion for early education, Ms Tucker said, has set up many children to become lifelong learners.

 

“As Jill retires, we thank her for her many years of service and for the invaluable contributions she has made to our community. We will miss her dearly, but we know that her legacy will live on in the children and staff at YCCC,” she added.

 

“We wish Jill all the best in her future endeavors and hope that she enjoys a long and fulfilling retirement, full of travelling, time with family and friends, fishing and golfing.”